Vaporizer for anesthetic



United States Patent [72] inventors Christian Drager;

' Karl F. Molleringtl-lans Georg Breiling,

Lubeck, Germany [2]] Appl. No. 761,089

[22] Filed Sept. 20, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 29, 1970 [73] AssigneeDragerwerke, Heinr. 8: Bernh. Drager,

Lulieck, Germany [32] Priority Sept. 20, 1967 [33] Germany [54]VAPORIZER FOR ANESTHETIC 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 141/18,

141/113, 141/349, 141/366 [5l] lnLCl B65b 3/04 [50] Field ofSearch l4l/l13,

Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner- Hadd S. LaneAttorney-Curtis, Morris and Safl'ord ABSTRACT: A vaporizer for ananesthetic has been provided which comprises a container for saidanesthetic in which said anesthetic is vaporized, a filling and anemptying means therefor, said filling and emptying means beingpositioned at the lowest point of said vaporizer, said filling andemptying means being swingable around an inlet bore or channel to saidvaporizer container sealingly engaging the same and removable therefrom,a cylinder coupling means provided in said swingable filling andemptying means for detachable fastening of a cylinder containing saidanesthetic, and a valve means activatable by said cylinder couplingmeans for filling and emp tying said vaporizer container for theanesthetic. Further, a vaporizer for an anesthetic has been providedwhich comprises a container for said anesthetic in which said anestheticis vaporized, a filling and emptying means therefor, said filling andemptying means being positioned at the bottom of said vaporizer andcommunicating with said container, a valve means positioned inside thefilling and emptying means, a coupling means within said filling andemptying means for receiving a male coupling connection on a flexibleconduit connected to a cylinder containing the anesthetic, said valvemeans being activatable by said male coupling means on the flexibleconduit.

Sheet FIG./

- INKENTORS CHRISTIAN; DRAGER KARL Fj MOLLERING HANS GEORG BREILING01476 ATTORNEYS Patented Spt. 29,1970 "3, i I 7 Sheet 2 026 \40 l 1 9 I20' v 2/ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Sheet 3 01'6 l u m INKENTORSCHRISTIAN DRAGER KARL F. MOLVLERING- HANS GEORGBREILING ATTORNEYSPatented Sept. 29, 1970 3,530,905

Sheet 4' of6 52 INKENTORS CHRISTIAN DRAGER KARL F. MOLLERING BY HANSGEORG BREILING AT TORNEYS Patented Sept. 29,1970 7 7 3,530,905

Sheet 5 016 v lNKENTORS- CHRISTIAN DRAGER KARL F. MOLLERING BY HANSGEOR-G BREILING ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Sheet Q 016 FIG] 'ATTORNEYS' 1 VAPORIZER FOR ANESTHETIC This invention relates tovaporizers for anesthetics, more paticularly to a vaporizer providedwith improved filling -emptying means, and coupling links cooperatingwith cylinders holding suitable anesthetics.

Vaporizers for anesthetics are known which are provided either with atop-positioned filling connection or a bottompositioned discharge valve.The filling connection is provided with a screw closure which must beremoved to effect filling. After use, the vaporizer is emptied byopening the discharge valve. Vaporizers for anesthetics are also knownin which the container has no filling connection or discharge valve.These containers are taken apart before and after use for filling andemptying, respectively. Furthermore, the known vaporizers are so devisedthat they can be used in each case only for a given anesthetic or for agiven group of anesthetics. This means that these vaporizers give thedesired concentration of anesthetic in a gaseous mixture only for thespecific anesthetic or the group of anesthetics. However, all the knownapparatus have the disadvantage that the vaporizer can also be filled bymistake with different anesthetics without the operator being able tonote this in any manner. For example, a vaporizer for anesthetic of theknown construction intended for ether can be filled with halothane orsome other anesthetic, although the vaporizer itself is not adjusted tothe use of a different anesthetic. This can lead to the poisoning of thepatient.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantagesdescribed and to provide a vaporizer for anesthetic which makes itimpossible to introduce an anesthetic which is unsuitable for theparticular vaporizer. As a point of departure, the invention proceedsfrom the basis that the anesthetics are kept on supply in cylinders.These cylinders in turn are provided with a separate connection for eachanesthetic or-each group of anesthetics.

Thus, the invention relates to a vaporizer for an anesthetic havingimproved filling, emptying, and coupling means. The invention resides inthe fact that the filling and emptying connection (with coupling means)connected at the lowest point of the vaporizer is provided with afilling and emptying means having coupling means therein. The fillingand emptying means is swingable about a horizontal axis and beingsealably engaged with a conduit through which the anesthetic isintroduced in the container. This filling and emptying means has asuitable coupling for a cylinder connection for detachable coupling of acylinder containing the anesthetic, so that said cylinder can be broughteither into a filling position or into the emptying position. When otheranesthetics are used, the swingable filling and emptying means with theparticularly sized coupling means can be replaced with a similar meansbut which correspond to the proper coupling connection on a cylindercontaining the different anesthetic.

' According to the invention, another solution is to provide the fillingconnection located at the lowest point of the vaporizer for theanesthetic with a flexible connecting piece for a flange connector forthe detachable fastening of a cylinder containing the anesthetic so thatthe cylinder can be brought either into the filling position or into theemptying position.

The invention provides the advantages that the vaporizer for theanesthetic can be filled only from the cylinders and with the use of thecylinders of the corresponding anesthetic.

Further details and other aspects of the invention will be obvious fromthe discussion or claims and will be explained on basis of theembodiments shown schematically in the drawings in which the samenumbers designate the same elements or elements functioning insubstantially the same manner and wherein:

'FIG. 1 shows a vaporizer for the anesthetic in side view withconnection or coupling means thereon shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view seen in the direction of the arrow P of FIG. 1,with the connection means shown in section along the plane A-B;

FIG. 3 is a section through a headpiece for a storage cylinder for theanesthetic;

FIG. 4 is a section through the upper end of an anesthetic storagecylinder provided with a tightly secured filling closure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a vaporizer for anesthetic in accordance with adifferent construction with the connection shown in section;

FIG. 6 shows the connection piece for connecting the cylinder containingthe anesthetic for the attachment in the container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a three-way valve connection providing for a couplingto a cylinder containing an anesthetic which is attached during filling,using and emptying cycle.

In the vaporizer for the anesthetic 1 the horizontal filling connection2 is so arranged that its bore 3 discharges below the bottom surface(not shown) or at the height thereof, so that the vaporizer can beemptied through the bore 3.

The bore 3 terminates in a vertical transverse bore 4 which exits intoan annular groove 5. Furthermore, the filling connection 2 is providedwith a recess 6 over which the connecting piece 7 having a correspondingbore 8 is placed or from which it is removed. The connecting piece 7 isthus supported swingably and is held by the screw cap 9 which forms theabutment of a coil spring 10 which presses against the connecting piece.The connecting piece is sealed from the connection 2 by two sealingrings 11.

In the upward swung position shown in the drawing of FIG. 1, the bore 4is in communication with the bore 12 which terminates in a valve seat13. A washer 14 rests against said bore. A closure plug 15 acted upon bya spring 16 presses against said washer 14. The abutment for the spring16 is formed by a screw cap 17. From the space 18, in which the closureplug 15 moves, a bore 19 shown in FIG. 2 extends on the side of 6downwardly; this bore has a sealing surface 20 and a screw thread 21. I

The swingable connecting piece 7 in FIG. 1 is provided with a projection7a which engages in a corresponding recess on the top of the fillingconnection 2 as a result of which the connecting piece 7 is held in theposition shown. Further locking means can also be provided on thefilling connection 2 in order to hold the connecting piece 7 also inother swung positions. Various places in which the filling connectioncan be positioned are illustrated in FIG. 2 by the dashed lines, showingin part the cylinder nozzle inserted in recessed screw thread 21.

FIG. 3 shows the neck of a cylinder for an anesthetic which is providedwith a thread 23. On this thread there is screwed a cap 24, its beingsealed off in screwed-on position by means of a gasket 25. The cap 24carries a connection 26 with a thread 27 which corresponds precisely tothe thread 21 in FIG. 2. The connection 26 is provided with an extension28; this extension and the connection 26 being traversed by a bore 29,from which, at the end of the extension 28 lateral boreholes 30 extend.The extension 28 or connection 26 bears a packing 31. Furthermore, thecap 24 is provided with a bore 32 extending into the inside of thecylinder and terminating in a pipe length 33. The pipe 33 terminates ina nozzle 34.

The cylinder containing the anesthetic (not shown) can, however, afterthe filling also be connected with the illustrated screw cap 24 in amanner other than by a threaded connection. Thus, for instance, thescrew cap 24 can be forced by a false seat into the neck of thecylinder. In this case the cylinder filled with the anesthetic is placedon the market together with the cap 24 and the structural parts fastenedthereto, which serve for the filling process described further below.

Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 in which the cap 24a is forcedinto the neck of cylinder 22. The cap bears the same structural parts asin FIG. 3 and is furthermore closed by a closure cap 35 which isprovided with a thread 37 which engages in the cylinder thread 36. Theclosure cap is so developed that when it is placed on the cylinder, itseals tightly and securely the cylinder.

In order to fill the vaporizer container for the anesthetic l, thecylinder coupling shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is screwed by means of thethread 27 into the thread 21, the front end of the extension 28 ispressing against the closure plug 15 and is lifting it from the washer14 illustrated in FIG. 1. When the cylinder is screwed in further, aliquid-tight connection is created. The cylinder and the connectionpiece 7 are now swung in the direction indicated by the arrow P in FIG.2 until the filling and emptying means 7 assumes the position 7b, shownin dashed line, while the cylinder assumes the position shown by dashedline 40. The bore 12 assumes the position 12a shown in dashed line.Further details have not been shown in order not to clutter the drawing.The anesthetic now flows through the bores 29 and 30 and the bores 12and 3 into the anesthetic vaporizer 1, while air flows from the outsidevia the bore 32 and the nozzle 34 into the cylinder. The nozzle 34 is inthis connection so small that air will definitely flow out of saidnozzle rather than allowing the liquid to emerge. The vaporizer for theanesthetic l is not hermetically closed in the ready position so thatthe liquid may overflow. Dependable flow can furthermore be assured byproper dimensioning of the length of the extension 28 and the length ofthe pipe section 33.

As customary, the vaporizer 1 has an inspection window 41 in which theliquid level marks Maximum 42 and "Minimum" 43 are arranged. Thevaporizer 1 is filled up to the permissible mark. The connecting piece 7is now again swung back into the initial position shown in solid line.When too much anesthetic has been introduced, it empties, i.e., flowsback into the cylinder containing the anesthetic until the upper fillingmark 42 lies at the height of the valve seat. No further return flow ofthe anesthetic takes place. The cylinder can now be unscrewed, the valveelements 15, 14, and 13 then closing.

If the vaporizer for the anesthetic 1 is not operated with a pressuresystem but rather with a draw over system, the cylinder can remainscrewed-on during the anesthesia operation.

In order to empty the vaporizer for the anesthetic l, the cylinder isagain screwed to the connecting piece 7 and the latter together with thecylinder now swung into the position 7c shown in dashed line in FIG. 2.The bore 12 in this connection assumes the position 12c shown in dashedline. Since the valve illustrated by elements 15, 14, and I3 is open,the anesthetic from the vaporizer now flows downwardly through the bore12 into the cylinder until the vaporizer 1 is completely empty.

Furthermore, the pipe length 33 together with the nozzle 34 of thecylinder containing the anesthetic provides assurance against theoverfilling of the cylinder containing the anesthetic.

In the embodiment of FIGS. and 6, the filling connection 44 is directeddownwardly from the bottom of the vaporizer for the anesthetic I. In thefilling connection there is fastened a valve seat 45 which is passedthrough by a valve stem 46. The latter bears at its upper end the valvecone 47. The valve stem 46 is fastened to an annular piston 48 which issealed off from the inner wall 50 of the filling connection 44 by asealing ring 49. The piston 48 and the valve seat 45 constitute theabutments for a compression spring 51 which normally holds the valve 47,45 in its closed position.

At the lower end of the filling connection 44, there is pro vided athread 52 which matches the thread 53 of the connector 54 illustrated inFIG. 6 ofa flexible connecting line 55 also illustrated in FIG. 6. Theconnector 54 and the thread 53 in this figure bear in a bore of aconnecting spout 56. the front end of which is provided with a collar57. To the other end 58 ofthe connecting spout 56. the connecting hose55 is fastened. Upon the screwing in the connecting spout 56, its collar57 comes tightly against the annular piston 48 illustrated in FIG. 5 andpushes the latter finally in front of it whereby the valve illustratedby elements 47 and 45 is opened.

Returning to FIG. 6, at the other end of the flexible connecting line55, there is fastened the connecting nipple 59 of the screw cap 60, thethread 61 of which is screwed onto the thread ofa cylinder containing ananesthetic (not shown). For venting, there is provided a vent tube 62and for sealing, a circumferential seal 63. After the connecting of thecylinder containing the anesthetic at the thread 61, the spout 56 isconnected, in the manner described above, to the filling connection 44shown in FIG. 5, the valve illustrated by elements 47 and 45 therebyopening. Now the vaporizer for the anesthetic 1 can be filled up to themaximum mark 42 by suitably raising the cylinder containing theanesthetic.

In reference to FIG. 5, on the filling connection 44, below the valveseat 45, there is arranged a riser pipe 64 which terminates in adownwardly directed bend above the mark 42. After the above-describedfilling of the vaporizer 1, the connector 54 together with the thread 53is screwed back up to the mark 42 so that the annular piston 48 ispressed downwardly under the pressure of the spring 51, its remainingpressed hermetically against the collar 57 of the connecting spout 56 sothat the anesthetic cannot flow out downwardly. Furthermore, the collar57 can also be developed so that it rests in piston-like and tightfashion against the inner wall 50 of the filling connection 44 so asdefinitely to avoid any emergence of anesthetic.

When the cylinder is now swung downwardly air enters via the riser pipe64 so that the anesthetic located below the valve seat 45 can flow backinto the anesthetic cylinder until the connecting line 55 is completelyempty. 5

In accordance with a further development of the invention, the flexibleconnecting piece 55 can be firmly connected with the interposition ofamulti-way cock 65 shown in FIG. 7 to the filling connection 44, in whichcase the latter is not provided with a valve 45, 47. The multi-way cock65 is so developed that in a first position it opens the connectionbetween the flexible connecting piece 55 as illustrated in FIG. 7 andthe inside of the vaporizer for the anesthetic 1, while in a secondposition it closes the connection and in a third position it opens theconnection between the flexible connecting piece 55 and the riser pipe64. In order to fill the vaporizer for the anesthetic 1, the multi-waycock is brought into the first position and the storage cylinder held ata high level until the vaporizer has been filled up to the mark 42.Thereupon the multi-way cock is brought into the second position. Theanesthetic can now be utilized. For emptying, the multi-way cock isbrought into the third position and the cylinder containing theanesthetic is lowered so that the anesthetic flows completely back intoit.

In this case also the vaporizer 1 can be filled at all times only withthe proper anesthetic, the cylinder of which is provided with a threadwhich matches the thread 61 shown in FIG. 7.

Similarly, in the case of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. I to 3,the vaporizer 1 can only be filled with an anesthetic, the storagecylinder of which is provided with a thread corresponding to the thread21.

We claim:

1. A vaporizer for an anesthetic comprising a container for saidanesthetic in which said anesthetic is vaporized, a filling and anemptying means therefor, said filling and emptying means positioned atthe lowest point of said vaporizer, said filling and emptying meansbeing swingable around an inlet channel means to said vaporizercontainer sealingly engaging the same and removable therefrom, acylinder coupling means provided in said swingable filling and emptyingmeans for detachable fastening of a cylinder containing said anesthetic,said cylinder being swingable between a level below said lowest pointand a level above that of said anesthetic in the filled vaporizer, and avalve means activatable by said cylinder coupling means for filling andemptying said vaporizer container for the anesthetic.

2. A vaporizer for an anesthetic comprising a container for saidanesthetic in which said anesthetic is vaporized, a filling and anemptying means therefor, said filling and emptying means beingpositioned at the bottom of said vaporizer and communicating with saidcontainer, a valve means positioned inside the filling and emptyingmeans, a coupling means within said filling and emptying means forreceiving a male coupling connection on a flexible conduit connected toa cylinder containing the anesthetic, said cylinder being movablebetween a level below said lowest point and a level above that of saidanesthetic in the filled vaporizer, said valve means being activatableby said male coupling means on the flexible conduit.

3. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 1 wherein thevalve means are spring loaded.

4. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 2 wherein thevalve means are spring loaded.

5. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 1 wherein a femalecoupling means in said swingable filling and emptying means is adaptedto receive a male coupling means of a cylinder holding an anesthetic ina tightly sealing relationship, said male coupling means having anextension with a bore and side ports therefor, said extension beingactivated by lifting a spring loaded, movable valve element in saidvalve means.

6. The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the female coupling meansin said swingable filling and emptying means in the filling positioncommunicates with the inlet bore to said container and in the highestfilling position is located at a height of a maximum filling level towhich the container is filled.

7. The vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein the seat for the springloaded valve means in the swingable filling and emptying means forms theclosure at the end of a filling and emptying bore in the swingablefilling and emptying means and which is communicating with said inletbore of said vaporizer container.

8. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 5. wherein themale coupling means of the cylinder closure is provided with a vent tubeextending into the inside of a cylinder holding the anesthetic andwherein said vent tube is capped off by a nozzle.

9. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 1, wherein theswingable filling and emptying means is provided with indexed holdingmeans holding said swingable means in an indexed position.

10. The vaporizer for an anesthetic according to claim 2, wherein thevalve means allowing the filling and emptying of said container isseated centrally, axially, and movably within a conduit communicatingwith said container and is provided with an annular piston displaceablelongitudinally and axially in said conduit in an open and a sealingposition.

11. The vaporizer according to claim 10, wherein the annular piston issealed off with an O-ring from the inner wall of the conduit.

12. The vaporizer according to claim 10, wherein the male coupling meansis provided with a connecting spout and a sealing collar whichspout isinserted in the female coupling means, the end of which spout rests in asealing manner against the annular piston of the movable valve means andthe sealing collar rests against said walls of said conduit.

13. The vaporizer according to claim 12, wherein the valve means isprovided with an open conduit line seated below the upper valve seal,the upper portion of which conduit line is above the maximum height towhich the container is filled.

14. The vaporizer according to claim 2, wherein the flexible conduit toa tank holding the anesthetic is coupled to the filling and emptyingmeans having an interposed, multi-way cock between the container and atank, the multi-way cock in its first position communicating with thetank holding the anesthetic in an open position, the multi-way cock inits second position closing off said connection and the multi-way cockin its third position communicating with the flexible conduit and a ventin said coupling means.

